RAWALPINDI:
Defence lawyers on Monday cross-examined three witnesses during the hearing of a case filed against former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi for allegedly misusing state gift repository rules to obtain a jewellery set presented to them during Imran’s term as PM.
A special court heard the caseknown as Toshakhana-IIin a courtroom inside Adiala Jail, where the couple is detained.
During the jail hearing, presided over by Special Judge Shahrukh Arjumand, the statement of the former PM’s personal secretary, Inam Shah, was recorded, while cross-examination of three other witnesses was also completed.
Imran and Bushra were presented in the courtroom. Defence lawyers cross-examined witnesses Customs Appraiser Rabia Samad, Sana Saeed, and ADC Abdullah Khan on their recorded statements.
Also present in court were the PTI founder’s sisters, Bushra Bibi’s sister-in-law Mehrunisa Ahmed, and PTI leader Senator Ali Zafar.
So far, cross-examination of statements from 14 prosecution witnesses has been completed. One prosecution witness, Azeem Manzoor, was dropped as unnecessary.
On behalf of the accused, lawyers Qausain Faisal and Arshad Tabraiz appeared, while Special Public Prosecutor Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi and Umair Majid Malik represented the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
In the next hearing, the defence will cross-examine the statement of witness Syed Inam Shah. The hearing was adjourned until 10 September.
Meanwhile, an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad on Monday heard multiple cases against PTI leaders, including those related to the November 26 protest, alleged election rigging, and the Azadi March demonstrations.
Judge Tahir Abbas Supra presided over the proceedings and remarked that the Ministry of Law has yet to respond to his letter regarding the PTI founder. He said a reminder would be sent today, urging the state to clarify whether it is serious about pursuing these cases.
The court marked the attendance of the accused and adjourned the hearings. Copies of the challan were distributed in the Kohsar police station case, while requests for exemption from appearance were filed by PTI leaders Omar Ayub and Ali Nawaz Awan.
Judge Supra remarked that Omar “falls ill only when summoned to court,” to which the defence counsel responded that the video referred to was old, not recent.
